How Did Modern Prophets Celebrate Christmas? — Part 3

The Know

As Christians contemplate the birth of Christ every Christmas, the thoughts of many turn to the importance of sacrificing for others. Christ, who sacrificed Himself for humanity, was the ultimate example of sacrifice, but many Presidents of the Church showed their devotion to Christ through the sacrifices they made, sacrifices that can be seen through their thoughts and actions, especially in regard to Christmas.1

Spencer W. Kimball

In 1961, Spencer W. Kimball spent Christmas in the Holy Land, and visited the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the site where some Christians think Jesus was born. He recalled “As we stood looking at the metal star in the concrete floor, it seemed to fade and we seemed to see a crude manger in a cave and sitting by it a lovely lady with a beautiful face and sweet spirit watching a little infant wrapped like other Hebrew babes in swaddling clothes… How grateful we are that the baby Jesus was born.” He later recalled, “The years have come and gone since then, but always at this beautiful season, we repledge ourselves to his work—and invite all people everywhere to join us in our prayers of joy and love and gratitude for the life and teachings of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”2

Ezra Taft Benson

Ezra Taft Benson grew up spending Christmas with his family in Idaho, but as an adult, two Christmases with his family came to have a special meaning for him. Shortly before Christmas of 1945, Ezra Taft Benson was called to preside over the European Mission to help the people of Europe recover after the devastation of World War II, and he could not bring his family with him. He recalled, “This unexpected development affected greatly our preparations for Christmas and created an unusually sentimental and loving atmosphere in our home.”3 The next year was painful for him, as he was separated from his family for almost the entire duration. He wrote of the experience, “I had been forced to rely completely upon the Lord, and my gratitude for His goodness and watchcare filled my soul and brought me easily to tears.” He later recalled, “I’ll never forget the thrill of stepping off the airplane in Salt Lake City the following December, in 1946, and finding Flora waiting for me. That Christmas was among the most poignant I have ever spent. Perhaps there had been no year in my life when my soul had been so stirred or when I had faced such challenges.”4 Perhaps reflecting on this sacrifice, he later said, “Christ’s great gift to us was His life and sacrifice. Should that not then be our small gift to Him—our lives and sacrifices, not only now but in the future?”5

Howard W. Hunter

In December 1961, Howard W. Hunter and his wife, Clair, spent their first Christmas away from home in the Holy Land with the Kimballs. He recalled, “The four of us walked to the Garden Tomb outside the wall this was the most quiet place in Jerusalem. As we sat in the tomb, we read from the New Testament of the events which transpired many years ago. I think I shall never forget this experience—the story of his death and resurrection became so real.”6 Howard W. Hunter became President of the Church in 1994. In December, he wrote a Christmas message for the church, where he said “If you desire to find the true spirit of Christmas and partake of its sweetness, find time during the hurry of the season to turn your heart to God. Perhaps in the quiet hours and in a quiet place, on your knees—alone or with loved ones—give thanks for the good things that have come to you, and ask that his spirit might dwell in you as you earnestly strive to serve him.”7

Gordon B. Hinckley

Perhaps the most difficult Christmas for Gordon B. Hinckley came when he was only nineteen. In the summer of 1933, he left on a mission to Great Britain. In December of that year he spent his first Christmas away from home. He later wrote about that holiday in a letter to his father, “with distance between us, I begin to see in your life the spirit of Christmas beyond the magic of Santa Claus. . . . There is a deep and silent expression of the virtues of Him whose birth we honor on this day. God bless you, dad, and keep you ever wonderful to me.”8

Thomas S. Monson

When Thomas S. Monson was a young man, he served as a bishop in Utah. Shortly before Christmas of 1951, a man came to visit him. This man’s brother was moving his family into Bishop Monson’s ward from Germany, and he wanted the bishop to come see the apartment. President Monson recalled, “It was cold and dreary. The paint was peeling, the wallpaper soiled, the cupboards empty. A forty-watt bulb hanging from the living room ceiling revealed a linoleum floor covering with a large hole in the center. I was heartsick. I thought, ‘What a dismal welcome for a family which has endured so much.’” The next morning, he brought up the plight of the family in the ward welfare meeting. The members of the ward council quickly began to volunteer to help. The High Priest Group Leader volunteered to improve electrical wiring and replace the appliances in the apartment, others volunteered to put in carpet, the elders quorum would paint, and the relief society would stock the cupboards. Three weeks later, the family entered their newly-refurbished apartment, where many ward members were waiting for them. President Monson recalled, “In the living room we began to sing Christmas hymns. We sang “Silent night! Holy night! All is calm; all is bright.” We sang in English; they sang in German. At the conclusion, the father, realizing that all of this was his, took me by the hand to express his thanks. His emotion was too great. He buried his head in my shoulder and repeated the words, ‘Mein Bruder, mein Bruder, mein Bruder.’”9

Russell M. Nelson

President Russell M. Nelson grew up during the Great Depression, a particularly difficult time for many across the country. He recalled, “As with many of you, Christmas has changed for me over the years. My childhood memories are etched on the backdrop of the Great Depression of the 1930s. Money was scarce. Gifts were particularly precious.” However, Christmas was made better not through getting more gifts, but through giving to others. He recalled, “My parents made Christmas magical for me and my siblings. Each year we became a “sub-for-Santa” family for another family. We prepared appropriate gifts and delivered them on Christmas Eve. As we drove away from their home, their waving hands and tearful faces brought us the true joy of giving.”10

Dallin H. Oaks

At the 2025 First Presidency’s Christmas Devotionals, Dallin H. Oaks said, “The Spirit of Christmas encourages us to use this season to step across barriers and promote understanding and love with people of all races, creeds, and national origins.” He continued by asserting that “we should reach out to all the sons and daughters of God. We should extend the sincere hand of fellowship to all persons, those who are and those who are not of our faith.”11

Referencing Leviticus 19:33-34, he said, “We should observe the command God has the prophet Moses give to the children of Israel: ‘If a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself.’” He stated that Latter-day Saints, should be the friendliest and most considerate people, including children: “We should teach our children to be kind and considerate of everyone. I am saddened whenever I hear of non-Latter-day Saint parents in this community sorrowing because they believe that their sons and daughters have been excluded or ostracized by our member children or youth. I hope such instances are rare and diminishing.”12

The Why

Many of these Christmas stories show the willingness of these prophets to sacrifice for God and others. Gordon B. Hinckley showed his willingness to sacrifice by leaving his home to preach the gospel. The people in President Monson’s ward showed their willingness to sacrifice to help immigrants they had never met before. Ezra Taft Benson showed his willingness to sacrifice to help the people of Europe recover from World War II. The prophets remind us that Christmas can be a time to remember the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ and to emulate Him.

As Gordon B. Hinckley taught in his 1997 Christmas message “He [Jesus Christ] condescended to leave His throne on high and come to earth to be born in a manger, in a conquered nation. He walked the dusty roads of Palestine, healing the sick, teaching the doctrine, blessing all who would accept Him.” He emphasized the importance of Christ’s sacrifice for humanity and that it is what makes Christmas significant, “We honor His birth. But without His death that birth would have been but one more birth. It was the redemption which He worked out in the Garden of Gethsemane and upon the cross of Calvary which made His gift immortal, universal, and everlasting.”13